Completion of Trim Road works has "transformed area" - Fennessy
The completion of works on the Trim Road has " transformed the area" according to a local councillor.
The Trim road in Navan reopened to two way traffic earlier this week after months of construction works on the development of a one kilometre cycle scheme.
Widened footpaths on both sides of road, two new pedestrian crossings, the installation of infrastructure to aid the roll out of the CCTV network, significant drainage improvements, underground service diversions and fibre linking traffic signals were also completed as part of the project.
An extension of the scheme to Balreask Manor went on public display late last year. The NTA has given the initiative the go ahead and designers have been appointed, a Navan Municipal District meeting heard last month.
"The completion of works and a return to 2-way traffic on the Trim Road is great news," said Navan Mayor Cllr Eddie Fennessy.
"The road is safer and more accessible for local residents and the parents and school children who travel in and out of the area every day," he added.
"The area has been completely transformed by linking the Solstice Arts Centre with Beechmount through the development of over 1km of segregated cycle facilities.
"Local residents will also benefit from the installation of bus stops along the road connecting the Woodlands and Connolly Avenue estates with the centre of town.
"I thank the council for it's delivery and the local residents for their perseverance. I look forward to the development of further phases on the Trim Road over the coming years.
Meanwhile Navan Cycling Initiative has welcomed the completion of phase 1 of the Athlumney to Trim Road Cycle and Pedestrian Scheme.
"This scheme is on a key artery heading into Navan town centre and will service thousands of houses and six schools along the route, and we have no doubt it will encourage more people to feel they can now cycle in safety to their destination," said Ed Moynihan, chairperson of Navan Cycling Initiative.
"As always with these schemes, despite being labeled as just cycle lanes, there is always much more to them. The road is vastly improved in appearance and there are now improved footpaths, drainage works, landscaping, improved public realm, safer junctions for all road users, improvements for mobility / visually impaired users. This will no doubt encourage more active travel and free up road space for others," he added.
"The Athlumney to Trim Road scheme first went to public consultation in 2018, and was then revised in 2019, and it has been a frustrating wait for all.
" We strongly feel that progress on delivering vital infrastructure like this is too slow. The full length of the overall scheme (from Beechmount to Convent Road) is 2.5km. These newly completed phase 1 works, from Beechmount to the Solstice, are 850m in length. We should not have to wait six years for this scheme to become a reality."
Mr Moynihan says the group hopes that the next phase from Solstice to the New Bridge will be completed as soon as possible, as well as the continuation of other key schemes out the Trim Road and on the Dublin Road.
"A connected network of safe cycle lanes in our town is vital to encourage more people to choose cycling as their mode of transport, reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, help alleviate traffic congestion and free up road space in our town" explains the chairperson of Navan Cycling Initiative.
“This is a brilliant addition to our town and it's great to see Navan finally getting some high quality cycling infrastructure. There are six schools on this route and this will make it safer for kids cycling to school or for families to cycle into town. We need to see a lot of more of this rolled out right across Navan and encourage more people to use cycling not just as a hobby but as a quick, safe and convenient way to get around.”